- Finding yourself talking to the penguins after your shift is probably considered normal in this job.
Are you sick of your job? Would you like a new career — something exciting, something no one would ever believe you did?
Well, my friend, this is your chance to enter the dynamic, demanding, and downright strange world of penguin post office management!
No, we’re serious. That’s a real job you could do.
The U.K. Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) is looking for three adventurous individuals to man Port Lockroy, a tiny British base on Goudier Island in Antarctica, which is home to the world’s most southerly post office. Despite its remote location and being nearly completely without human habitation, the island receives nearly 80,000 letters every year.
It’s mostly because of the 1,500 gentoo penguins living on the island that draw in thousands of tourists every year. Oh, and the job includes counting the penguins.
Be warned, though — this job is not for the faint of heart. You’ll have to be able to endure extreme isolation, lack of running water and washing facilities, and the constant stench of penguin poop.
The Office
Alright, let’s unpack these job opportunities. First of all, you might wonder what Port Lockroy even is.
Well, it’s not much. Port Lockroy is a tiny, tiny, tiiiiiiiiiiiny base off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, consisting of a whopping three buildings. Also occasionally called Base ‘A’, it was founded in 1944 as a British research station on Goudier Island, a frozen piece of rock more or less the size of a football field.
Base ‘A’ (why does the A have quotations?) operated until 1962 when it was abandoned. Its historical value, however, was recognized decades later.
In 1996, the UKAHT took over Port Lockroy and transformed it into a living museum. It’s a popular one, too — Port Lockroy is probably Antarctica’s busiest tourist destination, attracting 18,000 cruise ship-borne visitors every year.
And just like with any good museum, somebody needs to be there to guide visitors and man the gift shop. That’s where you could potentially come in.
The Duties
The UKAHT is looking for three people to take up part-time positions at Port Lockroy during the Antarctic summer between November 2024 and March 2025. The available positions include base leader, general assistant, and gift shop manager.
Despite the different titles, though, the job descriptions are 90% identical. After all, there’s only so much you can do on this tiny godforsaken hunk of rock.
Primarily, the people chosen for the jobs will be expected to make sure the tourist visits to the island will go smoothly. The team is expected to look after the tourists, tell them about the location, and operate the island’s gift shop.
The second most important task is running the island’ post office. That includes selling stamps, sorting mail, and getting letters transported safely on and off visiting ships.
The candidates must maintain the facilities, buildings, and museum displays. The UKAHT also expects them to actively promote the foundation’s work and raise funds to keep Port Lockroy running.
Of course, since the hired team will be the only people on the island, they’re supposed to maintain it in livable condition. That means clearing snow, cleaning, managing the pantry, cooking, and other daily chores.
Last but not least, the team must assist the British Arctic Survey in monitoring Goudier Island’s 1,500-strong gentoo penguin population. In other words, you’ll get to count and recount penguins over and over and over.
The Challenge
Does that sound like something you’d like? Don’t rush to apply just yet, though, since the Port Lockroy positions come with a whole slew of caveats.
The first and most important one is that you can’t get off the island. Once you set foot on the island, you will be there for five months with the rest of your team.
You’ll sleep, eat, work, and live in the same shared facilities for the entire time. We’d say you wash in the same rooms, too, but you won’t.
That’s because you won’t wash, period. There’s no running water on Goudier Island, which means no showers, baths, or toilets.
Once nature calls, you’ll use a camp toilet — a fancy term for a big bucket with a seat. You’ll have to empty it daily as part of your job.
Showers are available whenever a ship comes by. They usually visit around once per week, but during bad weather, you may not get to shower for two or three weeks.
Yet, you’re expected to stay hygienic, so better get used to cold sponge baths.
There’s also no private time. Half of the island is a dedicated penguin resort that you won’t be allowed to enter (except to count them) and most sporting and other outdoor activities are prohibited due to the risk of injury.
After all, what would you do if you got hurt?
Finally, there’s the isolation. You have a shoddy Starlink internet connection and a satellite phone for emergencies, but for the most part, you’ll be socializing with your work team only.
Finally, you’re in Antarctica, so it’ll be cold as all hell. Oh, and the island reeks of penguin guano most of the time.
Still sound good? Then go ahead and apply before the applications close on March 18, you crazy bastard!